Manchester City defeats Newcastle, intensifying title race
Manchester City has intensified the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race, decisively defeating Newcastle United 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Academy product Nico O’Reilly was instrumental, scoring both goals to pull Pep Guardiola’s side within just two points of the league leaders, reports BritPanorama.
O’Reilly opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a left-footed strike, although Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope did manage to get a hand on it. The hosts’ lead was short-lived, however, as Newcastle equalised merely eight minutes later thanks to Lewis Hall’s deflected effort from the edge of the box, which wrong-footed City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City responded rapidly, regaining the lead just five minutes after conceding. A beautifully floated cross from Erling Haaland found O’Reilly, who headed the ball into the far corner. This sequence of goals unfolded within a pulsating 13-minute window, showcasing both teams’ attacking flair. Despite a tense second half, City maintained their lead, thus extending their unbeaten run to eight matches.
Remarkably, this victory marks City’s 17th consecutive Premier League win over Newcastle at home, a run that dates back to August 2002. As City continues to find form, winning their last five matches across all competitions, Arsenal’s recent struggles persist, with only two wins in their last seven league games.
Newcastle arrived in Manchester after a long journey, having recently played a Champions League match in Azerbaijan. This fatigue appeared to impact their performance at times, making it difficult for them to assert their game plan. The defeat extends Newcastle’s disappointing league record at the Etihad, remaining winless in their last 21 league matches there.
With their current position in the table, Newcastle stands tenth, six points off the coveted European places with a challenging schedule ahead, facing teams such as Everton, Manchester United, and local rivals Sunderland. They will look to rebound when they host Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday, having built a commanding 6-1 lead from the first leg.
In the title race, City’s resurgence injects more intrigue into the competition. With Arsenal’s form wavering and the clock ticking down, the stakes are mounting as both sides try to secure their place atop the Premier League.
